“I am,” he said, sliding the parchment towards her. “It’s explicitly stated. Your father intended for you to inherit everything.”
Her fingers trembled as she took the document and read it. “And my brother?”
“Left only ten thousand pounds,” Dominic replied. “A sizable sum, yes—but nothing compared to the full estate.”
She read over the will again, this time more slowly, her eyes scanning every line. There was no mistake.
Almost one hundred thousand pounds.
It was hers.
She was an heiress.
Dorothea leaned back in her chair, stunned. “I can’t believe this. He… my father always said he would see me taken care of. I just never thought…” Her voice trailed off, thick with emotion. “Not like this.”
Dominic watched her quietly, his expression unreadable.
And though neither of them said it, the truth sat between them, unspoken and weighty: she no longer needed his protection.
And now, the choice to stay or walk away… rested entirely on the heart.
Dorothea gently set the will back down onto the table. “What do we do now?” she asked, her voice threaded with uncertainty.
Dominic leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “We proceed cautiously,” he responded. “This evening, I learned something else—something far more unsettling. Mr. Wells has been working with your brother.”
“That’s awful. You trusted him.”
“I did,” he said. “Which is why it stings all the more.”
He reached forward, gathering the two wills and carefully folding them before tucking them back into the inner pocket of his jacket. “I’ll keep these safe until we’ve secured a new solicitor. One I can trust.”
Dorothea tilted her head. “And how do you intend to find someone trustworthy? If Mr. Wells could be bought?—”
“I have friends that I can trust.”
A soft smile curved her lips. “Speaking of your friends… Lady Westcott and Lady Bedford called upon me. They were quite the pair.”
Dominic gave a wry smile. “I’ve never been formally introduced to Lady Westcott, but I admire Lady Bedford. She has a fierceness about her that I’ve always admired.”
“Now my interest is piqued.”
His lips twitched into a half-grin. “She once dressed as a man and stopped a duel.”
“I wish I had seen that. I imagine she made quite the impression.”
“She did,” he responded with a chuckle.
“You should laugh more,” she said. “It suits you.”
Dominic looked at her for a long moment, the smile fading into something more thoughtful. “I suppose I haven’t felt like laughing in a long while,” he admitted. “But when I’m with you… I don’t know. Everything feels a little lighter.”
“I’m glad.”
Leaning forward, Dominic rested his forearms on the table, his eyes never leaving hers. “We need to be smart about this,” he said, his tone growing serious once more. “A great deal is at stake now that we’ve uncovered the truth. Your brother is not going to walk away quietly.”
Her expression sobered. “No. I expect nothing less from him.”
“You’ll need to be strong,” he stated. “The next few weeks may be difficult. He’ll attempt to discredit you. Intimidate you. Possibly even try to turn the courts against you.”
